Darlington stage one of the biggest games in their history tomorrow with their first home match in the senior national knockout event.

Cumbrian club Aspatria, who are two divisions above Darlington in National Three North, are the first round visitors in the Tetley's Bitter Cup.

Mowden Park should have a simpler task in the same event at home to Broughton Park, but for Darlington it's a big test after winning their first three games.

They again involved four 18-year-olds in last Saturday's 27-15 win at Beverley in North Two (East), with prop Dan Miller going on at half-time for player-coach Phil Lancaster.

Scrum half Robbie Stewart, lock Richard Snowball and centre Kieron Thompson were on from the start, with skipper David Andrew switching to full back as David Glendenning was ill.

Stewart nipped down the blind side from a ruck to score the first try, which Thompson converted from the touchline.

Beverley then drove a maul 15 metres to score and went 12-7 ahead on the half hour when Darlington were caught napping by a quickly-taken penalty. Prop Joe Osleton provided the only cover and a winger chipped over his head to score.

Darlington quickly regained the lead when Craig Lee cut through the middle to go under the posts. Thompson converted and added a penalty to make it 17-12 at half-time.

Two tries followed for winger Paul Beattie, the first resulting from a break by Stewart on halfway.

Rob Goddard went on for hooker Brian Baldwin and after 63 minutes Beverley tried to run the ball in their own half and Thompson intercepted to put Beattie away.

With victory in the bag, Darlington ran a penalty in their own 22 and the move broke down, allowing Beverley to score.

Mowden's match at Macclesfield was postponed because of the fuel crisis, as was Bishop Auckland's game at Guisborough.

Darlington thirds lost 31-18 to Yarm, despite leading 13-12 at half-time through a try by Tony Williams plus two penalties and a conversion by Brian Alston.

Slack tackling cost Darlington the game in the third quarter, but they came back in the last ten minutes and Keith Stoddart added another try